WLOS lets go longtime anchor Blunt

On Wednesday, popular WLOS news anchor Larry Blunt was let go from his position at the station, according to a post Blunt made on Facebook. He had worked at the station alongside news veteran Darcel Grimes since 2005, delivering the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news.

"Today I was told my position has been eliminated at WLOS," Blunt posted on social media on Jan. 4. He then added that he was told the station's parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting, was cutting positions "at all of its stations."

Blunt's wife, Jan, posted publicly about the station's decision, writing: "After returning from a video shoot for his 'Person of the Week' series today, Larry was called into the general manager's office and told that Sinclair Broadcasting has 'eliminated his position.' ... We're OK, still in shock, and will have a lot of decisions to make pretty quickly. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated."

Blunt's photo and biography has been removed from the News Team page on the WLOS website, but his staff page had once boasted a long list of career highlights, including his work exposing North Carolina state law loopholes that allowed homes to be built on contaminated sites.

Every Friday, Blunt's "Person of the Week" segment turned the spotlight to inspirational individuals who make a difference in their communities.

News of his departure swept through social media, and the Facebook page of the ABC affiliate station has since been flooded with posts from viewers asking about Blunt's absence and outraged at the loss of the weeknight anchor.

Posting to the TV station's page, Patti Plowden Ulirsch wrote, "He is our community, and when you disregard that, you are disregarding all of us in Western (North Carolina)."

From Waynesville, Tommy Haney posted a similar sentiment: "Larry Blunt is a staple to the news team (and) has been in our homes on our TVs for years!"

Blunt's fellow reporters voiced their concerns about the layoff as well. On her public Facebook page, reporter Jerrika Insco wrote: "I've never looked up to one of my coworkers so much in my life. The guidance Larry Blunt provided anyone in our newsroom who would listen was astounding. His knowledge of the business, guidance, ability to bring you to tears, expertise in storytelling, kindness and generosity in the community will be sorely missed at WLOS."

In his initial post, Blunt explained, "I have people at Ch. 13 that I love and that will never change. I won't lose you. And for so many of you in the community that I've had the privilege to meet, get to know, share your story and to be touched by your life, you have made my life better."